Is This Link Safe? Free Link Checker for Scams and Phishing
Got a link in an email, text, ad or DM and not sure about it? Paste it below — or paste the whole message. The link checker looks up the website behind the link: how old the domain is, what people outside the site say about it, whether it appears in scam or phishing reports, and whether it imitates a known brand. Then it tells you whether it looks safe to click or pay. Free, no account needed.
What the link checker looks at
- The domain behind the link and its age — a "trusted since 2012" page on a domain registered last month is the classic tell.
- Reviews and complaints outside the site itself, and whether they look real.
- Scam, phishing and malware reports from public blocklists and consumer-protection sources.
- HTTPS and look-alike checks — does the domain imitate a bank, a parcel service or a known shop?
- If you paste the whole message: pressure tactics, and every sender email address, IBAN and phone number in it.
Link checker vs. virus scanner
A virus or URL scanner asks whether the page carries malicious code. Most scam links pass that test: they lead to a clean-looking site that takes your money or your login. HasTrust asks the other question — can the site behind this link be trusted? — and for shops also whether the price is real. If you suspect an actual malware download, use a dedicated URL scanner as well.
Before you click: three habits
- Hover over the link (or long-press it on a phone) to see where it really goes. The visible text and the real destination are often different.
- For banks, parcel services and government sites, never use the link in the message: type the address yourself or use the official app.
- Never pay or log in through a link you did not ask for. Go to the site directly and check there.
More free checks
FAQ
Is the link checker free?
Yes. Every check is free and needs no account. To be warned automatically while you browse, add the free HasTrust browser extension.
Does it open the link on my device?
No. The check runs on our servers from public sources about the site; nothing is opened in your browser.
What about shortened links (bit.ly, t.co and similar)?
HasTrust does not resolve shorteners, so a shortened link is checked as the shortener's own domain, which tells you little. Reveal the real destination first — long-press or hover, or use the shortener's preview feature — and paste that address. A shortened link in a message you did not expect is itself a warning sign.
HasTrust is free, needs no account, and never sells scores. How we make money: some outbound links to shops carry an affiliate tag — it never changes a score.